There is nothing more tyrannical than a strong popular feeling among a democratic people.
—Anthony Trollope, 1862Quotes
No free man shall be taken or imprisoned or dispossessed or outlawed or exiled, or in any way destroyed, nor will we go upon him, nor will we send against him except by the lawful judgment of his peers or by the law of the land.
—Magna Carta, 1215The Revolution is made by man, but man must forge his revolutionary spirit from day to day.
—Che Guevara, 1968You should never have your best trousers on when you go out to fight for freedom and truth.
—Henrik Ibsen, 1882It is a certain sign of a wise government and proceeding, when it can hold men’s hearts by hopes, when it cannot by satisfaction.
—Francis Bacon, 1625The poor have sometimes objected to being governed badly; the rich have always objected to being governed at all.
—G.K. Chesterton, 1908I say violence is necessary. It is as American as cherry pie.
—H. Rap Brown, 1967The most hateful torment for men is to have knowledge of everything but power over nothing.
—Herodotus, c. 425 BCPolitics, n. A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage.
—Ambrose Bierce, 1906A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always count on the support of Paul.
—George Bernard Shaw, 1944Sic semper tyrannis! The South is avenged.
—John Wilkes Booth, 1865He may be a patriot for Austria, but the question is whether he is a patriot for me.
—Emperor Francis Joseph, c. 1850The first requirement of a statesman is that he be dull.
—Dean Acheson, 1970